Thread cleaning machine for pipes and tubes



May 19, 1936. H. B. LYNCH THREAD CLEANING MACHINE FOR PIPES AND TUBES Filed Marc 2, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 9 W36, H. B LYNCH THREAD CLEANING MACHINE FOR PIPES AND TUBES Filed March 2, 1933 I5 Sheefcs-Sheet 2 lmemora HQEEY 5. LYNCH H. E) LYNQH THREAD CLEANING MACHINE FOR PIPES AND TUBES Filed March 2, 1933' 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 HQEEV 5v LYNCH Patented May 19, 1936 PATENT OFFICE THREAD CLEANING MACHINE FOR PIPES AND TUBES Harry B. Lynch, McKeesport, Pa., assignor to National Tube Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application March 2, 1933, Serial No. 659,392

6 Claims.

This invention relates to thread cleaning machines for pipes and tubes.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel automatic and periodically actuated machine for cleaning the threads of pipes and tubes, and particularly those which have been galvanized or coated after the threads have been formed.

Another object is to provide a machine of the class described in which an adjustably positioned heating element assures the heating of Zinc or other coating on the threads to the temperature required for its easy removal.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel rotary and reciprocatory head which carries a plurality of radially movable thread brushes, together with novel automatic and periodically actuated mechanism for operating the same.

These and further objects will be apparent after referring to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan of the apparatus of the invention with a portion of its housing removed.

Figure 2 is an elevation showing part of the apparatus in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 5 is a sectional detail on the line V-V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional View on the line VIVI of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 designates a bed plate for the apparatus of the invention. A housing 3 is mounted on the bed plate 2 and adapted to receive a pair of bearing sleeves I and 4 which are keyed against rotation, as at 4 but are capable of longitudinal. movement. A hollow spindle is disposed within the bearing sleeves 4 and 4 and adapted for rotation relative thereto. A hollow stem 6 is disposed within the spindle 5 and provided on its outwardly extending end with a spindle head 6 The spindle head 6 is provided with a plurality of swivel pins I which are adapted for rotation relative thereto. A brush-holder 8 is secured to each of the swivel pins and adapted to carry a removable brush 9. The swivel pins 1 are cam-slotted as at I in order to cooperate with a key 3a Cap ried by an adjacent pin Ill, which is adapted to 'move longitudinally with respect to the swivel pm.

The brush-holders 8 are each restrained from thereto in any suitable manner.

radial movement by a spring 8 Each of the pins I0 is secured at one of its ends to a plate II, which is secured to a collar I2 mounted on the spindle 5 by means of rods li The collar I2 is adapted to rotate with the spindle 5. A 5 shield I3 is provided for protecting the spindle head 6 and its associated brush assembly. This shield is suitably secured to the bearing sleeve 4 and therefore does not rotate.

A hollow shaft I4 is disposed within the stem 6 and spindle 5, and is provided on its end adjacent the spindle head 6 with aflange I5. The shaft I4 is held against rotation with the spindle 5 and stem It by being keyed to an end plate I6 in a manner to be later described. This end 15 plate i6 is pinned, as at Ili to the adjacent end of the bearing sleeve M. An electrical heating unit I1 and a stop-plate I F are removably secured to the flange I5 in any suitable manner.

The rearward end of the hollow shaft I4 (in other words, the end thereof which is opposite that carrying the flange I5) is screw-threaded to carry an internally threaded adjusting nut I8, This adjusting nut I8 is adapted to bear against the end-plate I6 which, as before stated, is pinned, as at Ili to the adjacent end of the bearing sleeve 4 The nut I8 is externally threaded to carry an internally threaded clamping nut I 8 and the latter is hooked, as at I8 to the end-plate I6. Thus, the hollow shaft I4, end-plate l6, adjusting nut I8 and clamping nut is are all rigidly connected to the bearing sleeve The shaft I 4 and its associated flange I5 may be adjusted longitudinally to vary the position of the heating unit I1 and stop-plate I'I by this adjusting nut I8 which bears against the end plate I6. A pair of bus bars I9 extend through the shaft I4 and are connected to the heating unit I! at one of their ends, and are provided with suitable terminals Is at their other ends for connection to a source of electricity. The spindle head ('5 receives rotation through a gear which is suitably secured to the spindle 5. Suitable packing media is provided between the end plate I5 and the bearing sleeve 4 and between the latter and the gear 20, all as shown at Z.

A shaft 2| is journaled in the housing 3 and carries a cam drum 22 which is suitably secured thereto for rotation therewith. The cam drum 22 is provided with cam ways 22 and 22 which may be formed integral therewith or secured A yoke 23 is mounted on the collar I 2 which moves the brushes radially by means of the rod II, but does not rotate therewith.

The yoke 23 is provided on one of its sides with a roller 23 which rides in the cam way 22. A yoke 24 is secured to the sleeve 4 and carries a. roller 24 which rides in the cam way 22 of the cam drum.

One end of the shaft 2| extends considerably beyond the housing 3 and is provided with a cou pling 25, which is connected to a power driven shaft 26. The power driven shaft 26 is associated with a transmission mechanism generally indicated at 21.

A shaft 29 is provided with a gear 29 having an elongated contact surface. The gear 29 is adapted to rotate with the shaft 28, but is incapable of longitudinal, or sliding movement. The shaft 28 is also provided with two sliding gears 30 and 3|, which are keyed for rotation therewith, as at 28*. A shaft 32 is journaled directly beneath the shaft 29 in the frame housing 3. A sleeve 23 on the other end of the yoke 23 is journaled on the shaft 32 for sliding movement relatively thereto, and provides a sliding anchorage for the yoke. A sleeve 24 is disposed for performing a like function for the yoke 24.

Two pinions 33 and 34 are secured to the shaft 32 and are adapted to cooperate with the sliding gears 30 and 3|, respectively, on the shaft 29 when manually moved into selective operating relationship by any suitable mechanism.

The shaft 32 receives rotary movement through a gear 35 and an associated silent chain 36, which is driven through a gear 31 mounted on a shaft 38 of the transmission mechanism generally indicated at 21. The transmission mechanism 21 is driven by a motor 39 through a suitable shaft coupling 4|).

A cam disk 4| is secured to the shaft 2| by means of a lock screw 4|, and is sufficiently eccentric to periodically depress a roller 42 on the end of a spring-restrained operating shaft 42 for a time and limit switch generally indicated at 43, which is electrically connected to the motor 39 by means of wiring 43.

In operation, a pipe or tube A is manipulated into position against the stop |1 by a suitable automatic table, upon which it rests. This automatic table will be synchronized to operate in conjunction with the wiping machine, but as such forms no part of the present invention and accordingly is not shown or described.

The spindle assembly 5 being in its extreme forward position, as shown in the drawings, the electrical heating element l1 will encircle the threaded end of the pipe and heat the zinc coating or other material on the thread to a temperature suflicient to enable its easy removal therefrom, after which the limit and time control switch, generally indicated at 43, functions to close the electric circuit 43 and thus starts the shaft of the motor 39 to rotate. This rotation will be transmitted to the transmission mechanism, generally indicated at 21, shaft 38 and gear 31, and hence to the silent chain 36, which rotates the shaft 32 through the gear 35. The rotation will be transferred from the pinions 33 and 34 to the shaft 28 by means of either of the gears 30 or 3|, according to the speed required. These slidable gears 30 and 3| are shifted in any suitable manner as, for instance, by the application of a wrench, pinch-bar, or the like. R0- tation of the shaft 28 drives the gear 29 through the elongated pinion 29 and rotates the spindle 5.

The rotation of shaft 26 of the transmission mechanism 21 will be transmitted to the drum 22, which will cause the cam way 22' to force the roller 24 and the bearing sleeve 4 on which it is mounted, backward.

At the beginning of the cam drum cycle, the cam way 22 will have a greater throw, or degree of angularity, than the cam way 22 and will cause the yoke 23, and hence the plate II, to move backward relatively to the spindle 5 and spindle head 6. This motion, transmitted directly to the pins It], causes the keys Hi to slide back in the spiral cam groove 1 cut in the swivel pins 1, thus giving them and the brush holders 8 a slight rotation, in order that the brushes 9 will be forced against the pipe A as the heating unit is being withdrawn.

During the next phase of the cam drum cycle, the cam ways 22 and 22 have the same degree of throw or angularity, and the yoke 23 will move backwardly at the same speed as the spindle 5, thus keeping the rotating brushes 9 closed against the pipe A while they are being driven back at approximately the same speed as the pitch of the thread.

When the brushes 9 have reached the end of the pipe, the third phase of the cam drum cycle begins, during which the cam way 22 presents a greater throw or angularity and moves the spindle assembly rapidly to its extreme backward position. The cam way 22, with less throw" or angularity at this point, will move the yoke 23 back to its original position on the spindle 5, and the brush holder 8 by this action will be swung open. or radially, to clear the next pipe.

During the fourth phase of the cam drum cycle, the cam ways 22 and 22 run at right angles with the axis of rotation and, therefore, have no throw. This function retains the spindle assembly in its back position while the mechanism of the automatic table (not shown or described) ejects the pipe just wiped, and replaces it with another.

In the fifth phase of the cam drum cycle, the cam ways 22 and 22* force the rollers 23* and 24 in the opposite direction and move the yoke 23 and the spindle 5, together with its assembly, forward at the same speed to their initial positions, with the brushes 9 in expanded position and the heating element I1 over the thread of the next pipe.

At the end of the phase just described the cam drum 22 will have completed one full revolution and the smallest diameter of the cam plate 4| will have returned to its initial position above the roller 42 on the limit and time control switch operating rod 42. At this point the spring 42 will raise the switch rod 42, the roller 42 rising into contact with the smallest diameter of the cam plate 4|, thus opening the motor circuit 43 and stopping the motor 39. The entire mechanism remains stationary, with the heating element |1 over the end of the pipe until the time and limit control switch, which is set to operate at fixed intervals, again closes the motor circuit and starts the mechanism through another cycle, as described.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a thread cleaning machine for pipes and tubes, a support, a pair of longitudinally slidable sleeves mounted in said support, a spindle journaled in said sleeves, a cup-shaped and hollow rotary head carried by said spindle, a heater disposed in said rotary head, a plurality of brushes carried by said rotary head and adapted for inward and outward radial movement with respect thereto, means for longitudinally adjusting said heater with respect to said rotary head, means for rotating said head, and means for reciprocating said head, said means for adjusting said heater with respect to said rotary head and said means for reciprocating said head being operable through said longitudinally slidable sleeves.

2. In a thread cleaning machine for pipes and tubes, a support, a pair of longitudinally slidable sleeves mounted in said support, a spindle journaled in said sleeves, a cup-shaped and hollow rotary head carried by said spindle, a heater disposed in said rotary head, a plurality of brushes carried by said rotary head and adapted for inward and outward radial movement with respect thereto, a shaft journaled in said support adjacent said spindle, a drum secured to said shaft and having a pair of camways on its periphery, a. collar secured to said spindle, a yoke journaled on said collar, said yoke carrying a roller adapted to seat in one of the camways on the periphery of said drum, a plurality of rods secured to said collar and extending through said spindle, mechanisms connected adjacent the other end of said rods for moving said brushes laterally when said rods move with respect to said spindle, a yoke secured to one of said sleeves and carrying a roller adapted to seat in the other of said camways, a supporting element for said heater extending through said spindle and being secured to said last named sleeve, and means for rotating said spindle and the shaft on which said drum is mounted.

3. In a thread cleaning machine for pipes and the like, a support, a spindle journaled in said support, a cup-shaped and hollow rotary head carried by said spindle, a plurality of pins journaled in said rotary head, each of said pins having a camway on its periphery, a rod journaled in said rotary head closely adjacent each of said pins, each of said rods carrying a key adapted to; seat in the camway of its adjacent pin, a lever connected on one of its ends to each of said pins, a spring for opposing the rotation of each of said pins in one direction, a cleaning device mounted on the other end of each of said levers, and means for moving said rods in such manner as to cause said levers to move radially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the axis of said rotary head.

4. In a thread cleaning machine for pipes and the like, a support, a spindle journaled in said support, a cup-shaped and hollow rotary head carried by said spindle, a plurality of pins journaled in said rotary head, each of said pins having a camway on its periphery, a rod journaled in said rotary head closely adjacent each of said pins, each of said rods carrying a key adapted to seat in the camway of its adjacent pin, a lever connected on one of its ends to each of said pins. a spring for opposing the rotation of each of said pins in one direction, a cleaning device mounted on the other end of each of said levers, means for moving said rods in such manner as to cause said levers to move radially with respect to the axis of said rotary head, and means for rotating and reciprocating said rotary head.

5. In a thread cleaning machine for pipes and the like, a support, a spindle journaled in. said support, a cup-shaped and hollow rotary head carried by said spindle, a tube extending through said spindle and into said rotary head, a heater connected to said tube adjacent said rotary head, a plurality of pins journaled in said rotary head, each of said pins having a camway on its periphery, a rod journaled in said rotary head closely adjacent each of said pins, each of said rods carrying a key adapted to seat in the camway of its adjacent pin, a lever connected on one of its ends to each of said pins, a spring for opposing the rotation of each of said pins in one direction, a cleaning device mounted on the other end of each of said levers, and means for moving said rods in such manner as to cause said levers to move radially with respect to the axis of said rotary head.

6. In a thread cleaning machine for pipes and tubes, a support, a spindle journaled in said sup-- port, a cup-shaped and hollow head secured to said spindle, a heater mounted in said cup-shaped head, at least one cleaning device mounted on said cup-shaped head, means operating through said cup-shaped head for moving said cleaning device radially with respect thereto, said cup-shaped head being constructed to receive the end of a pipe or tube, and means operating through said cup-shaped head for longitudinally adjusting said heater with respect thereto.

HARRY B. LYNCH. 

